Personnel Committee recommends hiring of two part-time employees for Animal Control

by
Adam SweeneyThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

12:00 PM, Wednesday, January 11 2012 | 1497 views | 0 | 6 | |

The Personnel Committee of the Russellville City Council agreed to recommend the hiring of two part-time employees rather than fill one additional full-time position, which was approved by the Finance Committee during the council’s budget meetings in late 2011.

Mike Vernon, Animal Control director, said he was approached by two Arkansas Tech University students who have volunteered at the animal shelter for three months about hiring them on a part-time basis.

“They asked about doing an internship,” Vernon said. “Both of them would be part-time so it would be two part-time positions. I’ve cleared everything with them about Saturdays because that was one of the main times we wanted someone there so we can be open for adoptions. They’re good with that, so I was wondering if we could go with the two-part time employees instead of one full-time position. It would save money because you wouldn’t be spending money on the benefits of a full-time employee.”

The full-time position was budgeted for $18,000 annually. Vernon said the amounts paid to the two part-time employees would be less than $18,000.

Vernon said the employees would not be like animal control officers, but would be more concerned with general tasks.

“They’re going to be cleaning, working with the pets, taking care of the pets and to an extent, they can do just about anything we want them to do — waiting on people,” Vernon said. “They’re good with people, doing adoptions, forms, organized — all of that.”

Tracey Cline-Pew, city human resources coordinator, asked if it was a true internship.

“I think we just use that term because it’s with a college student, but they’ll actually be two part-time employees,” Vernon answered.

“That’s good because it still works with Tech, it’s just not part of their degree program,” Cline-Pew said. “I just wanted to clarify that because interns usually have a shelf life. They have to have 600 hours and then it’s done, but these will be available to stay on.”

Vernon said he expected the employees — if approved by the full council — would remain working at the shelter for a while based on their volunteer efforts.

“I’m not talking volunteering an hour or two a week,” Vernon said. “I’m talking about an hour or two nearly every day.”

“I think we ought to give it a try then,” Alderman Burke Larkin said. “If they’re already there working and not getting paid, I don’t know why you wouldn’t put them on for a little while.”

Aldermen Kevin Freeman, Paul Northcut and Mayor Bill Eaton were also in attendance.